How to Fish (Dazed Games) Weapon Unlock Guide: Catching Fish with Guns

If you told me a few years ago that one of the funniest fishing games I’d play would involve shooting fish out of the sky, I probably would have laughed. Yet here we are.

How to Fish from Dazed Games takes the relaxing fishing-sim formula, throws it into a blender, and apparently decides that the missing ingredient was firearms. What begins as a fairly innocent attempt to catch fish quickly turns into a ridiculous cycle of hooking, beating, shooting, selling, upgrading, and doing it all again.

And honestly? That chaos is exactly why the game works.

I’ve spent enough time with games that promise “relaxing fishing” only to turn into spreadsheet simulators, so the approach here is refreshing. In How to Fish, the fish aren’t just something you catch. They become moving targets, money-making opportunities, improvised projectiles, and occasionally a very good excuse to panic when something much bigger than your boat decides to fight back.

If you’re looking for a How to Fish weapon unlock guide, here’s how I’d approach the arsenal, which upgrades are worth prioritizing, and where the game’s weapon system becomes genuinely fun rather than simply ridiculous.

The Basic Idea: Fishing Is Only Half the Job

The biggest thing new players need to understand is that catching a fish doesn’t necessarily mean you’re done.

Once you get something onto land or close enough to deal with, you still have to subdue it. That’s where the weapon system comes in.

At the beginning, your options are hilariously limited. You have your fists, a fishing setup, and the questionable confidence that this is somehow going to work.

It does work—but barely.

Small fish can be handled without much trouble, while larger or more aggressive creatures become increasingly difficult. This is where upgrading your equipment starts to feel less like optional customization and more like basic survival.

The progression is particularly satisfying because the game gradually transforms from:

“I’m going fishing.”

into:

“Give me the rifle. This fish owes me money.”

That escalation is basically How to Fish in a nutshell.

How Weapons Change Your Fishing Strategy

Weapons serve several purposes, and understanding them early makes the progression much smoother.

First, they’re obviously useful for killing and subduing fish. Bigger catches have more health and can become a serious problem if you don’t have enough damage available.

Second, weapons are tied into one of the game’s most entertaining money-making mechanics: trick shots.

If you launch a fish into the air and manage to hit it while it’s flying, you can potentially increase the value of the catch. This is where the physics engine really starts earning its keep. A normal fishing trip can suddenly turn into something resembling a badly organized action movie.

And then there’s the multiplayer factor.

With four players running around, someone is always doing something stupid.

One player is fishing. Another is trying to line up a ridiculous shot. Somebody else is fighting a creature that probably should have been left alone. Meanwhile, the fourth player is accidentally standing in everyone’s line of fire.

That makes weapon choice surprisingly important in co-op.

The How to Fish Weapon Progression

Here’s the progression I’d keep in mind while working through the islands.

The exact path can depend on your progression, quests, and what you’re buying, but the overall philosophy is straightforward: get enough damage to deal with the fish in front of you, then invest in weapons that make money-making easier.

Tier 1: Don’t Underestimate the Fists

Bare Fists

Yes, your first weapon is basically your hands.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not efficient. It certainly isn’t what I’d call advanced fishing technology.

But it’s important because it teaches you the basic rhythm of the game: catch something, get it under control, and turn it into money.

The biggest mistake would be treating your fists as something you need to use for a long time. They’re a starting tool, not an investment.

Fishing Knife

The knife is your first meaningful upgrade.

It’s simple, but that’s exactly why it’s useful. Melee damage improves your ability to finish off smaller and medium-sized catches without wasting time.

I’d buy this early rather than trying to hoard every coin. A better melee weapon means faster catches, and faster catches mean more money coming back into your wallet.

That’s the beginning of the game’s progression snowball.

Tier 2: The Pistol and Shotgun

Pistol

The handgun is where How to Fish starts becoming the game you were promised by the trailers and screenshots.

A pistol gives you actual ranged damage and, more importantly, a way to start experimenting with airborne fish trick shots.

Don’t worry about pulling off ridiculous 360 no-scopes immediately. Start simple.

Throw a fish.

Shoot the fish.

Celebrate.

Once you understand how the physics behave, you can start taking more ambitious shots.

The pistol isn’t necessarily the strongest weapon in your arsenal, but it’s a great training tool for understanding the game’s shooting mechanics.

Shotgun

The shotgun is where things get properly chaotic.

It’s especially useful in co-op because you don’t always need pinpoint accuracy. If something is moving quickly toward you, a wide spread can be much more forgiving.

It’s also useful against groups and larger targets at close range.

The downside is obvious: precision isn’t its greatest strength. If you’re trying to build an economy around fancy trick shots, the shotgun isn’t going to be my first choice.

If you’re trying to survive a messy encounter, though? Different story.

Tier 3: Assault Rifle and Sniper Rifle

Assault Rifle

The assault rifle is one of those upgrades that immediately makes previously annoying encounters feel manageable.

The major advantage isn’t just damage—it’s sustained fire.

When a tougher fish has a large health pool, being able to keep shooting without constantly resetting your attack rhythm is incredibly valuable.

This is also the weapon I’d favor when your priority is simply clearing dangerous encounters rather than performing elaborate trick shots.

In other words, the assault rifle is the practical choice.

And sometimes practical is exactly what you need when a giant fish is trying to ruin your afternoon.

Sniper Rifle

Now we’re talking.

The sniper rifle is arguably the most interesting weapon for players who enjoy the game’s physics rather than simply wanting to maximize damage.

Long-range shots, airborne targets, precision kills—the sniper turns fish into tiny, moving challenges.

It’s also where the trick-shot economy becomes much more appealing.

A normal catch gives you money.

A stylish catch gives you money and makes you feel like an idiot who somehow pulled off something amazing.

That’s the good stuff.

If your group has one player who naturally enjoys going for ridiculous shots, I’d let that player specialize in the sniper. They can focus on high-value opportunities while everyone else handles the more mundane work.

Tier 4: Dynamite and the Endgame Arsenal

Eventually, subtlety leaves the building.

Enter dynamite.

Explosives are less about precision and more about embracing the game’s inherent insanity. Throw one into a group of fish and suddenly you’re harvesting several targets at once.

Of course, explosives come with the small disadvantage of being explosives.

Your boat is not invincible, and physics doesn’t always care about your carefully constructed plan.

So while dynamite can dramatically increase efficiency, I’d use it with a little restraint. Blowing yourself up while trying to make money is generally considered a poor investment strategy.

The later secret and boss weapons are the real endgame toys. These are tied to tougher encounters and hidden challenges, making them feel like rewards rather than equipment you simply purchase from the first shop you visit.

Which Weapon Upgrades Are Actually Worth It?

Once weapon customization becomes available, I’d avoid upgrading everything equally.

Think about what role you’re playing.

Laser sights are useful if you’re serious about precision. They’re particularly appealing for players who spend a lot of time trying to hit moving or airborne targets.

Damage upgrades are more universally useful. If you’re constantly fighting stronger fish, extra damage can save time and prevent encounters from dragging on.

Melee upgrades are worth considering if you’re still frequently dealing with fish at close range.

And extended magazines become increasingly attractive once you’re fighting groups or tougher enemies. Nobody wants to reload while a giant fish is actively destroying their plan.

If you’re playing with friends, specialize instead of duplicating everyone’s loadout.

My Favorite Way to Make Money

The easiest trap is to treat every fish exactly the same.

Don’t.

When you see an unusual or rare variant, pay attention. Those catches can be significantly more valuable, and that’s where you should start thinking about trick shots.

My preferred loop would be:

1. Catch valuable or unusual fish whenever possible.
2. Bring them somewhere safe enough to experiment with the physics.
3. Launch them into the air.
4. Try a controlled trick shot before going completely insane.
5. Sell the finished catch and reinvest the money into your gear.

The important part is not wasting expensive opportunities while you’re still learning.

There’s nothing worse than finding a valuable fish and immediately turning it into an airborne projectile that sails over your head and disappears into the ocean.

Trust me: style points don’t pay the bills.

Don’t Ignore the Gambling Mechanics

The game’s gambling mechanics are another potential way to accelerate progression, although I’d treat them as a bonus rather than the foundation of your economy.

If you’re already doing well and have money to spare, taking a risk can be entertaining.

If you’re desperately saving for an important weapon upgrade, however, gambling away your entire bankroll is probably not the brilliant financial strategy it feels like in the moment.

Weapons first. Casino second.

Unless, of course, you’re playing with friends and have collectively decided that responsible financial planning is no longer part of the evening.

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Best Co-Op Weapon Setup

For a four-player group, I’d avoid giving everyone the same gun.

A balanced setup is much more fun:

• Player 1: Fishing and general catch management.
• Player 2: Shotgun for close-range control.
• Player 3: Assault rifle for sustained damage.
• Player 4: Sniper for precision shots and valuable trick-shot attempts.

This gives everyone something different to do and makes the chaos feel slightly more organized.

Notice I said slightly.

This is still How to Fish.

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Final Verdict

What I like most about the How to Fish weapon system is that it doesn’t feel like somebody simply bolted guns onto a fishing game for the sake of a joke. The weapons actually interact with the game’s physics, economy, progression, and co-op structure.

The fists and knife get you started. The pistol introduces ranged combat. The shotgun embraces chaos. The assault rifle solves problems through sheer volume of bullets. The sniper turns fishing into a bizarre precision sport. Then explosives arrive and remind you that the developers have absolutely no interest in keeping things sensible.

If you’re just starting out, don’t obsess over unlocking the most powerful weapon immediately. Build your economy, learn the physics, look for valuable catches, and practice trick shots. The best weapon isn’t necessarily the one with the biggest damage number—it’s the one that fits the way you and your team actually play.

And that’s ultimately why How to Fish is so entertaining.

You came here expecting a fishing game.

Instead, you got a co-op physics sandbox where your friends are arguing over who gets the sniper rifle while a fish flies through the sky.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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